Restaurantica

- 8 Food
- 6 Service
- 7 Other
7

This Restaurant Is In The Venitian
Review By cndraycott for Aqua Knox in Las Vegas on 4/3/2008
2 diners, $100-$199 per person on Sep 29 2007
OrderSeared Tuna, Seared Scallops, very heavy Red Wine
ReviewThis restaurant is in the Venitian, right on the strip. For what we paid for it I expected a lot more. My main complaint was with the Sommelier. Although he was incredibly knowledgable when it came to wine he didn't seem to know how to read people at all, which a good Sommelier knows how to do. He told us that he was one of the youngest in his field in Vegas, and that became apparent as dinner wore on. Any of the bottles of wine that he suggested were over 100$ each, and were far too powerful for the kind of food we were eating.

A Sommelier with some tact will suggest a range of both red and white wines from affordable to more expensive, from light to heavy. All the wines he selected were red, expensive and heavy. When we told him this he would select something else that was red and heavy. Out of politeness we settled on one of his decisions which cost us 130$.

Although the food was magnificent and the wait staff were both attractive, kind and curteous the poor choices made on the Sommelier's half were poor and ruined what is supposed to be one of the nicest restaurants on the strip.

I may go back, but only if their Sommelier has gained some practical experience by the time I've returned. Call me a wine snob if you want, but when you're paying nearly 200$ per person to eat somewhere you better have the right wine to go with your meal.

This Review was Accepted

- 10 Food
- 9 Service
- 10 Other
9.7

The Head Chef Of This Restaurant Is...
Review By cndraycott for Bin 23 Restaurant in Guelph on 4/3/2008
2 diners, $25-$49 per person on Aug 4 2007
OrderOrder: Herbed Foie Gras Pate with Cranberry jelly and crustini bread. Massive Grilled Prawns on a bed of White Bean Ratatouille. Braised Duck, with Briscut. Lemon Tart with Creme Fraishe, and Rum cake with Caramelized Banana. (one glass of red one and one glass of white)
ReviewThe head chef of this restaurant is Dave. I used to work with him before I decided not to pursue the culinary arts as a career. He's been one of the most successful chefs in Wellington county, working at many fine restaurants. For the last two years he has been working at Bin 23. Immediately when I walked in, he recognized me. We started up a simple conversation about the major restaurants in the area. From that point on, My boyfriend and I were treated with the highest respect in this restaurant. The Maitre'D "Gus" who was the owner of the restaurant took personal care of us. The meal was wonderful. I ordered the shrimp, which was decadent, my boyfriend order the braised duck which was juicy (mind you... I don't have much of a taste for duck) regardless we really enjoyed our meal. Everything (tax and tip included) came to $109.45. It was not a cheap dinner to say the very least.

My advice to you is to enjoy this restaurant in the Summer. The patio is small (3 - 4 tables) and the inside tends to be a bit cramped. The kitchen is open concept (meaning you can clearly see into the kitchen from about 60% of the tables int he restaurant)and I know first hand the chef is not a quiet man. If you're sitting adjacent to the kitchen you WILL hear him.

Bin 23 is located in a small building, about three stories high, built in what I can assume is the 1920's. However, the owner "Gus" owns the entire building. That caused me to wonder why they haven't placed the kitchen on the upper floor to futher convience their customers. The basement where the bathrooms are located is poorly ventalated, and incredibly warm due to the activity upstairs. There are a list of "Musts" when visiting this resaurant.

Go in the summer
sit on the patio
make a reservation
make sure you enjoy a laid back atmosphere when dining out.

Other then that, good luck! Food is persented well, fresh ingredients are used, great wine list, excellent range of entrees, excellent service, youthful feel, background music can sometimes be strange (not exactly feeling with the atmosphere).

This Review was Accepted

- 5 Food
- 6 Service
- 6 Other
5.7

Well
Review By cndraycott for Sushi For You in Mississauga on 4/3/2008
2 diners, $25-$49 per person on Aug 10 2007
OrderTempura, California Roll, Vegetarian Roll, Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls
ReviewWell, let me put to it to you this way, I went to the restaurant with a virgin sushi eater, and she wasn't used to good sushi, so she enjoyed herself. I, on the other hand, was not wowed by the service I got at Sushi for you. The girl who served us our tea was whisper quiet and incredibly shy and the sushi chefs at the bar were loudly bantering to each other.

The sushi was so-so, and the atmosphere is no where close to traditional. lots of windows to in an half industrial half commercial area. I have a couple friends who LOVE this place... but I'm lukewarm about it. Definitly better sushi places in Mississauga.

This Review was Accepted

- 8 Food
- 6 Service
- 7 Other
7

Well
Review By cndraycott for Pravda Vodka Bar in Toronto on 4/3/2008
2 diners, $25-$49 per person on Mar 22 2008
OrderCaviar and Vodka tasting, Pickles with Black Rye Bread, Pravda Vodka Martini with a lemon twist.
ReviewWell, this place is apparently more of a club when I thought. Everything is decked out in soviet decor, everything is red leather, and pictures of stalin and the soviet insignia are EVERYWHERE. I didn't have a problem with it, but my boyfriend is Russian, and he told me that to a Russian (depending on their sensitivity to the Soviet Union) this place could either be offensive or boarderline offensive. He was alright with it, but keep in mind if you have any Russian friends this place will not make them feel "right at home".

They asked us if we had a reservation, which caught me off gaurd, because it doesn't come across as the kind of place that would require them. Because we didn't have them we were seated by the door, which was drafty at some points.

My boyfriend had the caviar tasting which came with very small herbed pancakes, sour cream and 5 gram servings of Lumpfish Caviar, Stergon Caviar and Russian Black Caviar. Paired with the bread and pickles this was a treat that took him back to his childhood. I ordered a Pravda Vodka Martini with a lemon twist.

A word to the wise... don't order a martini here. Any bartender worth their salt can make a decent martini (which isn't supposed to taste like much anything, and not at all like alcohol). I got handed a martini that tasted of straight alcohol. It was the right temperature but not the right taste. I would expect a place that specializes and sells over 100 vodkas to make a decent martini... alas...

However, my boyfriend thought the places atmosphere was tacky, and camp, but enjoyable, and the food was nostalgic. I was disappointed with drink I had, and where they seated us did not impress me.

Also, while we were leaving a whole bunch of girls wearing bearly anything came in so the place turns into a club in the late night, which isn't a bad thing... but wasn't at all what I was expecting.

This Review was Accepted

- 10 Food
- 10 Service
- 10 Other
10

I'm An Avid Lover Of Japanese Food
Review By cndraycott for Social House at Treasure Island in Las Vegas on 4/2/2008
2 diners, $50-$99 per person on Sep 28 2007
OrderShrimp Maki Roll, Braised Arctic Char, Shrimp Fried Rice, Strawberry Cheesecake confetti, Sapporo Beer, Sparkling Water
ReviewI'm an avid lover of Japanese food. I've been going to Japanese restaurants since I was a child and this was by far to most stylized clash of East meets West that I have ever seen.

Firstly, the darkened atmosphere is more or less a party palace. There were a couple large groups of men drinking beer and carrying on. The crowd was quite young so if you're looking for a quiet sit down dinner with a spouse or a romantic dinner then you may want to rethink your restaurant choice.

Drinks were expensive but creative. While waiting for our table we sat in the lounge and had a Rising Sun Cocktail which was a lychee liquor with vodka and some sort of flavorful juicy red berry dropped in the bottom of it. A lot of their drinks are Japanese themed but are more campy then traditional (although traditional Japanese beer and sake is on the drink menu).

Everyone who works at the Social House is incredibly attractive, and where in most other American restaurants the waiters will simply be kind to you in hopes of getting better tips here you can't help but feel like the staff is hitting on you. I was having dinner with another woman and neither of us really seemed to mind, but if by chance this may makes you uncomfortable you, again, my want to rethink your choice in restaurant... though I'm sure if you were attending as a couple the staff would tone down their flirtatious nature. Really it was all in good fun, and it did warrant a larger tip.

Now, enough with the atmosphere, on to the food. to start we ordered their shrimp maki rolls which were to die for however it wasn't your traditional sushi with wasabi and picked ginger, though neither was required. The maki was moist and the flavor was exotic and nutty thanks to their seasoned roasted sesame seeds.

The entree was really the most exquisite part of the whole experience. The arctic char was immaculate. Crispy and fatty on the outside savory and silky on the inside and the portion was sizable. The Shrimp fried rice that we ordered with it was more then enough to share.

Dessert was light, and came to us on a long rectangle plate which was dusted with shaved cheesecake. there wasn't a lot of it, but it was just enough to quash the sweet craving after an excellent meal.

The place is pricey, but the staff, food and atmosphere made a lasting impression. After all, you're in Vegas... live a little!

This Review was Accepted

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